Required for All International Students at UW

Washington state laws require that international students on an F1 visa maintain adequate health insurance while attending the University of Washington. All matriculated international students in F1 or J1 status at the University of Washington are required to purchase the University of Washington Student Health Insurance every quarter they are enrolled in courses. There are some expections where UW will waive the requirement for a student - see below for details.

Enrollment is Through MyUW

Enrollment for UW's International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP) is through MyUW as part of the course registration process. The health insurance fee will be added to your tuition statement, which is due by the third Friday of each quarter.

Dates of Coverage

Students should make every effort to be insured during their entire stay in the U.S., including the vacation quarters, grace periods, and while authorized on Optional Practical Training. ISS encourages all students to purchase the insurance plan for the entire year to ensure coverage year-round, whether or not the student is enrolled in courses each quarter.

If you need short term coverage before classes begin you may purchase short term coverage through the ISHIP plan beginning in summer quarter. Private insurance is also available from several sources, including Assurant and Lewermark.

UW Insurance Waiver Eligibility

Students should not expect to be able to purchase an insurance plan that is not through UW. The requirement to purchase the UW Student Health Insurance Plan may be waived only if you fit into one of the following categories and have comparable insurance that is valid in the U.S. are eligible for an insurance waiver:

Exchange or visiting student attending UW through an official exchange program sponsored either by a UW academic department or the UW Office of International Programs & Exchanges.

Student funded by his or her government, or the U.S. government. Funding agencies include, but are not limited, to ARAMCO, SACM, and Fulbright.

Student receiving health insurance benefits provided by the U.S. employer of his or her parent, spouse or domestic partner.

Student enrolled at UW but doing research outside the United States.

Student working in the U.S. and receiving health insurance benefits through his/her employer.

Minimum Coverage: The insurance must provide a monetary minimum of $200,000 or more per medical condition per policy year, medical evacuation (at least $10,000) and repatriation of remains (at least $7,500).

Research or Teaching Assistantship: If you receive a graduate Research or Teaching Assistant appointment, you may be eligible for the Graduate Appointee Insurance Plan (GAIP). If you enroll, this will automatically replace the UW Student Health Insurance Plan and no waiver is required. More information on GAIP is available at: http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/benefits/insure/gaip/index.html

When you register for classes, you will notice that in MyUW you will be required to select a Health Insurance coverage plan. You will need to select either the quarterly or annual coverage. Please Note: You are advised to select the "Annual Coverage" because then you will only need to submit the online waiver one time per Academic Year. If you select the "Quarterly Coverage", then you must submit the online waiver every quarter.

Wait for the Waiver to be Approved & Insurance Charges Taken Off of Your Account.
Once you have submitted the online waiver form AND it is approved, UW will take off the insurance charge from your tuition statement. The charge will be taken off by the tuition due date. If you have already paid your tuition, the insurance payment will be credited to your account.